Jess McClain's Historic NYC Marathon Finish

Jess McClain achieved a historic second-place finish at the 2026 New York City Marathon, marking the first time an American woman has reached the podium in this prestigious race since 2018. Her time was 2:24:42, narrowly trailing the winner by mere seconds.

McClain, who is also the executive director for two nonprofits, returned to her home in Phoenix, Arizona, to resume her demanding schedule. Her training regimen, coached by ultramarathoner David Roche, includes early morning workouts before her full-time job and additional miles in the evening.

Reflecting on her career, McClain previously stepped away from competitive running in 2020 to find balance. Now, she is focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games marathon, having been the first alternate for the U.S. team in 2024.

Her future plans include competing in the Olympic trials in March 2028, with aspirations for a top-three finish. She also plans to run additional marathons and potentially compete in the 10K event at the Olympics.